Tool-less fast fit bracket

ABSTRACT

A system includes a bracket, the bracket comprising a back plate, an arm and a curtain rod cradle, and a fastening plate, a rear of the back plate configured to slidably receive the fastening plate. The rear of the back plate includes a channel formed with a pair of opposing side rails, an upper stop and a lower opening.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/358,204, filed Mar. 19, 2019, and claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/644,889, filed Mar. 19, 2018, both of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties.

STATEMENT REGARDING GOVERNMENT INTEREST

None.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to curtain rods, and more particularly to an easily and quickly installed bracket for use with curtain rods.

In general, curtain rods and such are hung on brackets. In a typical installation, a bracket is placed in a desired position against a wall, the bracket secured to the wall using nails and/or screws, and a curtain rod positioned and suspended securely across the bracket. At a minimum, the installation of the bracket requires a hammer and/or a screwdriver to fixate the nails and/or screws and reasonable manual dexterity to secure the bracket to the wall. More specifically, the bracket is positioned on the wall, nails and/or screws are tap and/or screwed into the wall, and curtain and rod are hung on the bracket.

What is needed is a system that eases an installation of a curtain rod bracket to a wall structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary of the innovation in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of the invention nor delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

In general, in one aspect, the invention is a curtain rod bracket system. The system comprises a bracket including: a back plate having a front surface and a channel with an upper stop member, first and second opposed side rails descending from the upper stop member, and a lower opening between the first and second side rails, a first arm extending outward from a first portion of the front surface, and including a first end engaging the first portion and a second end opposite the first end, the first arm having a first width, a second arm extending outward from a second portion of the front surface, the second portion being spaced from the first portion, and the second arm including a third end engaging the second portion and a fourth end opposite the third end, a U-shaped curtain rod cradle having first and second vertical members and a base extending between the first and second vertical members. The first vertical member has a hole formed therein and is attached to the second end of the first arm and wherein the fourth end of the second arm is attached to the cradle such that the second end and the fourth end form an acute angle with each other, the cradle having a second width greater than the first width. The system further comprises a fastening member configured to slidably engage the back plate channel, and configured to engage a wall, wherein the back plate channel is configured to slidably receive the fastening member therein, and whereby the bracket is configured to mate with the fastening member.

In another aspect, the invention features a system including a bracket, the bracket comprising a back plate, an arm and a curtain rod cradle, and a fastening plate, a rear of the back plate configured to slidably receive the fastening plate.

In yet another aspect, the invention features a system including a bracket, the bracket comprising a back plate, an arm and a curtain rod cradle, and a fastening prong, fastening prong comprising a flat portion linked to a penetration portion, a rear of the back plate configured to slidably receive the flat portion.

In still another aspect, the invention features a method including providing a bracket system having a bracket and a prong, sliding a back of the bracket over an exposed portion of the prong, and manually pressing the bracket into a wall at a desired location without the use of additional tools, securing the bracket to the wall with a pointed end of the prong.

The invention may have one or more of the following advantages.

The installation of a curtain rod bracket is accomplished by placing bracket having a fastening prong at a desired location, manually pressing it into a wall without accessory tools.

The installation of a curtain rod bracket is effectuated without a need for tools.

These and other features and advantages will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description and a review of the associated drawings. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are explanatory only and are not restrictive of aspects as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a first embodiment of an exemplary fast fit bracket system.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a second embodiment of an exemplary fast fit bracket system.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of an exemplary back channel of a bracket.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary prong.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary alignment of a prong relative to channel of a bracket.

FIG. 6 illustrates an alternate fastening plate.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary rear view of a fast fit bracket system.

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary bottom view of a fast fit bracket system.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary side view of a fast fit bracket system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It may be evident, however, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate describing the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1 , a first embodiment of an exemplary fast fit bracket system 100 includes a bracket 110 and a fastening plate 120 having apertures 122, 124 to receive finishing nails 126, 128, respectively. It should be appreciated that the shape and design of the bracket 110 can vary. In addition, it should be appreciated that the finishing nails 126, 128 may be replaced with other securing objects, such as screws. In the example embodiment, the bracket 110 includes a front surface 115, a back plate 130, a first arm 140, a second arm 145 and a curtain rod cradle 150. The back plate 130 includes a channel 132 formed with a pair of opposing side rails 136, 138, an upper stop member 134 and a lower opening 139. The first arm 140 extends outward from a first portion of the front surface 115 and includes a first end 142 engaging the first portion and a second end 144 opposite the first end 142. The second arm 145 extends outward from a second portion of the front surface 115, the second portion being spaced from the first portion, and includes a third end 146 engaging the second portion and a fourth end 148 opposite the third end 146. The curtain rod cradle 150 is configured to receive a curtain rod (not shown) that is secured within the curtain rod cradle 150 with a rod support set screw 152. The curtain rod cradle 150 is U-shaped, and has first and second vertical members 154, 156 and a base 155 extending between the first and second vertical members 154, 156. The first vertical member 154 has a hole 158 formed therein and is attached to the second end 144 of the first arm 140, and the fourth end 148 of the second arm 145 is attached to the cradle 150 such that the second end 144 and the fourth end 148 form an acute angle with each other. As will be described further, the bracket 100 is configured to mate with the fastening plate 120 and the fastening plate 120 is secured to a wall structure (not shown) by the finishing nails 126, 128, which insertably engage apertures 122, 124. The fastening plate 120 includes first and second sides, a first flange 125 a extending outwardly from and along the first side, and a second flange 125 b extending outwardly from and along the second side.

As shown in FIG. 2 , a second embodiment of an exemplary fast fit bracket system 200 includes a bracket 210 and a fastening plate 220 having apertures 222, 224 to receive finishing nails 226, 228, respectively. In the embodiment shown, the bracket 210 includes a back plate 230, an arm 240, a first curtain rod cradle 250 and a second curtain rod cradle 252. The curtain rod cradles 250, 252 are configured to receive curtain rods (not shown) that are secured within respective curtain rod cradles 250, 252 with rod support set screws 254, 256. As will be described further, the bracket 200 is configured to mate with the fastening plate 220 and the fastening plate 220 is secured to a wall structure (not shown) by the finishing nails 226, 228.

As shown in FIG. 3 , each of the brackets, for example, bracket 210, includes a back portion (i.e., the portion of the bracket 210 opposite the arm 240) configured with a channel 300. The channel 300 is formed by opposing side rails 310, 312 and a top rail 314. A lower portion 316 of the channel is open ended. The channel 300 is sized to snugly receive the fastening plate 220. More specifically, after the fastening plate 220 is secured to a wall structure, the channel 300 of the bracket 210 is slid over the fastening plate 220, securing the bracket 210 to the fastening plate 220 and thus to the wall structure. The top rail 314 of the channel 300 limits upward travel and acts like a stop when the bracket 210 is placed over the fastening plate 220.

The fastening plates 120, 220 shown above, generally require use of a hammer or screwdriver in conjunction with nails or screws to secure the fastening plates 120, 220 to any wall structure. However, manual insertion may be used when the wall structure is standard wall board. But there are times in which a tool-less system would be preferred. Referring now to FIG. 4 , in an alternate embodiment, the fastening plates 120, 220 are replaced by a prong 400. The prong 400 includes an exposed portion 410 offset from two penetration portions 412, 414. A user presses the penetration portions 412, 414 into a wall structure and the exposed portion 410 remains visible. The exposed portion 410 is manually placed into the channel 300 until it abuts against the top rail 314, thus securing the bracket 110, 210 to the wall structure.

In FIG. 5 , alignment of a prong 500 is shown relative to a channel 510 of a bracket 520. As described above, the channel 510 is slid over an exposed portion 530 of the prong 500 after penetration portions 540, 542 are placed with in a wall structure.

Referring now to FIG. 6 , in one embodiment the fastening plates 120, 220 are replaced with a lengthened and shaped fastening plate 600 to increase to stability. The fastening plate 600 includes a tapered mid-section 610, an upper portion that includes apertures 620, 622 for use with nails or screws (not shown) that are used to secure the fastening plate 600 to a wall structure (no shown).

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary rear view of a fast fit bracket system 700 and FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary bottom view of a fast fit bracket system 800.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary side view of a fast fit bracket system 900.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention is by way of example only, and other variations of the above-described embodiments and methods are provided by the present invention. The embodiments described herein have been presented for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be exhaustive or limiting. Many variations and modifications are possible in light of the foregoing teaching. The invention is limited only by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A curtain rod bracket system, comprising: a bracket including: a back plate having a front surface and a channel with an upper stop member, first and second opposed side rails descending from the upper stop member, and a lower opening between the first and second side rails, a first arm extending outward from a first portion of the front surface, and including a first end engaging the first portion and a second end opposite the first end, the first arm having a first width, a second arm extending outward from a second portion of the front surface, the second portion being spaced from the first portion, and the second arm including a third end engaging the second portion and a fourth end opposite the third end, a U-shaped curtain rod cradle having first and second vertical members and a base extending between the first and second vertical members, wherein the first vertical member has a hole formed therein and is attached to the second end of the first arm and wherein the fourth end of the second arm is attached to the cradle such that the second end and the fourth end form an acute angle with each other, the cradle having a second width greater than the first width; and a fastening member configured to slidably engage the back plate channel, and configured to engage a wall; wherein the back plate channel is configured to slidably receive the fastening member therein; whereby the bracket is configured to mate with the fastening member. 